Archie, Mel & Jim ----- I first joined CC&GTCC in 1994 (and for family health reasons missed a couple of years before rejoining last year). I therefore do not have the personal experience and awareness expressed in Mel's post. I and anyone else who has paid any attention to the hobby, however, cannot help but be aware of the enormous personal contributions which Archie Black has made in his long term as president. The rest of us, including you Jim, owe a debt of gratitude for those contributions which can probably never be repaid. One way that we can work on it, though, is to (at least publicly) treat him with the respect he has EARNED. That doesn't mean we all have to agree with everything he says or does, or every opinion he expresses. But there's no reason why we can't disagree, if we choose to do so, with civility.

From my position as a relative outsider who does not personally know either of you (Archie & Jim, that is, though I do know Mel) and has no personal knowledge of the underlying facts (i.e., the financial records), it is my opinion that you, Jim, are coming off in this exchange of messages not only as abrasive, but also as mean-spirited and petty. The personal tone of your criticisms (and, yes, they DO seem personal) does nothing to enhance either the validity of your opinions or the public appearance of the club (after all, this is a public forum).

I, of course, could be completely wrong and it wouldn't be the first time. But, that's my impression and my opinion. And no 's here; I'm serious.

----- jim o\-S